Month: January 2010

Ever found yourself watching an episode of your favorite show, one you thought you understood, only to be dazed and confused by some strange plot playing out on the screen? But in the final moments of the show you come to find that you were watching a show within a show! Everything suddenly makes sense and you may or may not even let loose a little “oh!” in your surprise at how the show comes to reveal its true intentions to you. That’s what occurred at “The Toothbrush,” presented by Yselta High School on Saturday.

The play, written by Jorge Diaz and translated by Coert Voorhees, is the never-ending argument of only two characters: He (Matthias Cantrell) and She (Shelbii Sanchez). They fight over the seemingly silliest of things like laundry detergent and furniture and using each other’s toothbrush. This “simple inoffensive domestic implement” is the basis for the biggest fight between He and She yet. Then in a bizarre twist, He gruesomely strangles She during a heated argument. The maid Antona (also played by Shelbii Sanchez) comes in to discover the body of She. The wild antics that ensued between He and Antona afterwards, He attempting to seduce "She," were funny and entertaining until Antona suddenly dropped her accent and pulled off her maid outfit to become She again. Turns out that the whole of killing She and seducing of Antona was just a game to help He and She spice up their marriage again.

This quirky, dark comedy was a hilarious take on the average everyday fights that ensue over the breakfast table of the average everyday married couples. However this was not the everyday couple as they went to great lengths to try to revive the spark they once felt in their five-year-old marriage, to the great entertainment of the audience. As a whole, this show could be summed up in one short phrase: downright knee-slapping, absolutely positively completely and utterly hilarious.

He, played by Matthias Cantrell, was superb on stage. He never lost his character or his humor and he jumped from scene to scene never losing energy. Cantrell’s timing and delivery of his lines were spot-on and hilarious. In every scene he had another different part to play: a cop, a priest, and even a game show host. And in every part Cantrell added something new and definitely something funny.

She/Antona were two very different characters until, suddenly, they weren’t different at all; they were the same person! Achieving the daunting task of playing these two characters was Shelbii Sanchez. As She, Sanchez was the indifferent, annoyed housewife. And as Antona, she was the naïve and innocent maid. Her accent as Antona was perfectly hilarious, and it never wavered, never faltered. Sanchez was hilarious and faultless in both of the characters she played.

And the technical aspects of the show was successful as well. The lighting only added to the amazing work being done on stage and the set helped the play move along. In He and She’s apartment one side of the stage is modern and fresh looking and the other is old-fashioned and quaint, setting up the contrasts between He and She. The sound effects were spot-on and really added to the scenes.

This show not only made you think, it made you laugh. The acting was superb and the technical aspects were carried out without a hitch. Like the show implies, everyone has to have their own personality and individuality and everyone has to have their own “simple inoffensive domestic implement."

by Nora Rausch of Montwood High School

Very Strong Performances in Ysleta's Toothbrush

As the lights began to dim and music started to play, the actors walked on stage and treated the audience to a hilarious, laugh-out-loud comedy with a little twist that one would not expect. Ysleta High School Theatre presents The Toothbrush. A story of a couple, who are at each other’s throat day after day, trying to spice up their love life using murder, scandal and role play all leading up to a great ending twist. This performance was directed by Mrs. Rosio Lockhart.

The Toothbrush was written by Jorge Diaz, a playwright from Argentina, whose style of writing resembles that of a Spanish Soap Opera. The story is about a couple who after five years of marriage have disconnected over petty arguments. One day during a stressful breakfast full of fighting a simple question of, ”Where is my toothbrush?” leads to an argument that breaks the “camel’s back.” The husband, with all his hate, kills his wife and hides the body from the maid who he is in love with. The twist is that his wife is the maid trying out role play in order to spice up their love life, which takes place on a soap opera set.

Shelbii Sanchez and Matthias Cantrell, the only two actors in this performance, had great chemistry and energy. These actors worked so well together that one would actually believe that they were a real couple. Whether they were arguing over breakfast or trying to seduce each other into bed, they both brought great chemistry to the stage. Though they were part of the stage crew, Alejandro Lechuga and Bonnie Baltazar helped the story move along. Towards the end, the crew was removing set pieces during the show to suggest they all were on a television show that was being cancelled.

Moments that stood out during the show was when the actors would break from the story and come forward to the audience and talk one-on-one or merely explain something that the audience might have missed. An example would be when “He” (Matthias Cantrell) and Antona (Shelbii Sanchez) would come downstage and give three different scenarios of “He” trying to get Antona to tell him who the murderer is. Playing “good cop bad cop," a game show host or a priest, He would always be outwitted by Antona ending in laughter for the audience.

Over all, the technical aspects of the performance went well. Although there were mistakes made, not by the technical crew but by the equipment itself, the crew still worked well to support the performance. The set was laid out well; it was an antique lifestyle with a modern day feel.

In the end, this was a very strong performance. The actors and tech worked very well together to give the audience a comedy that one would not expect. There was much energy given off and taken from both parts. This play brought the phrase “life is like a play” to life.

Midsummer "A Joy to Behold"

Seated only a few feet away from the actors themselves Friday night during Socorro High School’s performance of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," the audience was greeted with elaborate costumes and a simple set design that allowed for the beautiful Shakespearean masterpiece to shine through.

"A Midsummer Night’s Dream" is a comedy written by William Shakespeare around 1594 to 1596. It portrays the adventures of four young Athenians (Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius) on a quest to find true love, and a group of amateur actors (known as the Mechanicals), and the fairies who inhabit a moonlit forest.

Taking on one of Shakespeare's plays is an enormous challenge to undergo, especially for high school theater students. But the Socorro High School “Teatristas” accepted the challenge head on and put on a show that displayed a good range of acting and characterization as well as captivating technical aspects.

Daniel De La Rosa, who played Oberon, the king of the fairies, added such an amount of life and energy to his character that even when he wasn’t the main focus on stage one's eyes were still drawn to him. He never broke character, was always initiating little squabbles with his jester Puck (played by Ana Quinones), or sneaking around the edges of the scene being invisible as he observed the Athenian's drama unfold. Erica Kearby played the part of Helena with an equal amount of poise and rage, maintaining a ladylike personality even though she was distraught over not having Demetrius’s love.

Depsite the projection and annunciation troubles that some of the cast faced, it did not take away from the energy and happiness that all the characters, even the supporting ones possessed. Puck, portrayed by Ana Quinones, was Oberon’s jester who was responsible for all of the confusion that ensued when she mistakenly gave the love juice intended for Demetrius to Lysander. She was basically the narrator of the play and even though her stage time was not as significant as others, she lit up the stage when she came on. With her mischievous smile and joking with Oberon, she was a character that wouldn’t be forgotten. One of the amateur actors, Bottom, played by Madeleine Mannix, contributed in a major way to the comedic aspect of the play. She was not only funny because she played a man’s part, but also because of the enthusiasm and dedication that she brought to her character that made her and all the Mechanicals stand apart from the rest of the cast.

The woodland fairies, who together made up the play’s ensemble, were so beautiful to look at and immediately grabbed everyone’s attention from the moment they danced onstage with their huge poles of glittery streamers. They never broke character even with the trouble that the streamers caused when their large wings would get caught in them. They merely acted as fairies would and calmly and cutely detangled each other from the sparkly streams.

Socorro High School took a different approach to their set design for this production. The set itself was very simple with two long, painted panels that formed a “v” shape with windows cut out of them from which the characters entered or exited. And the entire play took place in what director Troy Herbort called their “backstage theater” which had the audience seated onstage only a few feet away from the actors. It made for a much more intimate viewing, which suited the Shakespearean farce well.

At the end of the night The Teatristas of Socorro High School succeeded in making one of Shakespeare's masterpieces a joy to behold.

by Caitlin Rodriguez of Eastwood High School

Teatristas Presents Exceptional Shakespeare Tale

Imagine a world filled with fantasy, fairies and beautiful Shakespearean English. William Shakespeare’s comedy, "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" tells the story of four Athenian lovers as they travel in a moonlit forest as they unknowingly come in contact with a surreal world of fairies and a group of amateur actors who have hopes of staging a play. This was written in the late 1500’s and has been performed across the world on numerous stages. The Socorro High School Teatristas recently presented this famous comedy in a production which took spectators on a quest of adventure, magic and laughter.

The actors’ presentation created characters that engaged the audience’s attention. Actress Erica Kearbey who played the role of Helena gave an extraordinary performance. Her constant use of inflection and high energy allowed the viewers to understand her purpose within the story. In addition, her facial expressions permitted her acting to be believable and created a personage that the audience enjoyed.

Daniel De La Rosa, portraying the part of Oberon, displayed a wide range of emotions. Furthermore, Daniel’s acting generated a character that developed throughout the course of the story. His broad use of volume permitted him to display different sentiments that caught the viewer’s interest. His sensuality along with his physical beauty shaped the character of Oberon into a remarkable and unforgettable King of the Fairies.

Another cast member who had a stupendous performance was Christina Vargas who played the part of Quince. Her beautiful English accent was constant and created a character that stood out from the rest of the cast. Her mannerisms on stage contributed to her acting and allowed the audience to believe that Quince was played by a male as written.

Although having a very small role, the character of Mustard Seed, played by Tasha Bergstrand, was greatly noticed. Her loveliness on stage created a character that the audience fell in love with. Despite having very few lines, Tasha was still able to attract attention every time she was on stage.

The set used by the cast was simple yet effective. With different windows the actors were able to move swiftly and to use their stage wisely. The set also allowed the scene changes to be done quickly and in a non-disruptive manner. The transition from Athens into the moonlit forest was absolutely beautiful. In addition, this scene change was done in character and it made the spectators feel as though they were also on a journey to the mysterious forest. A great feature in this performance was that the audience was seated on the stage. This permitted them to feel as though they too were an element of the play. The actors also displayed a great variety of levels throughout the comedy. These levels were successful because they drew the viewer’s eyes to different places on the stage. Ano
ther aspect of the play that was fulfilled well was that of the lighting. The lighting design kept the audience interested in the story. In addition, the lighting created mood changes that were crucial for the play. The use of red lighting tones during the fairy scenes provided a sensation of fantasy and magic.

The general aspect of the play was exceptional. Socorro’s Teatristas entertained the audience and took them to a different dimension.

As Reporter Phineous Trout (Colton Segapeli) would say, the news has made an incredible discovery at Montwood; Roald Dahl’s "Willy Wonka." The show was solidly founded on "pure imagination," from the sets, to the songs, to the electric energy that kept everyone enthralled. Despite some technical errors (many of which were not the technician’s fault), the show ended as a success.

To quickly reprise the plot, it is about Willy Wonka (Daniel Novotny), a famous chocolate maker looking for an heir to his candy empire. Because of the corruption in the youth of his day, Wonka cannot trust just anyone to succeed him, so he sends out five golden tickets hoping to find one child of pure heart. Though there’s no knowing if he can continue the Golden Age of Chocolate, the musical teaches the audience to think positive from not only Wonka’s view, but also the Buckets. This family is immersed in poverty, and despite it, they manage to make do. Charlie Bucket (Gabe Medrano) can barely afford a chocolate bar, but when he gets a golden ticket the opportunity of a lifetime falls into his hands.

Because Wonka’s world is so outlandish-not only does he have to be magical (which he was), but every actor had to have high energy and tight characterization as well. Fortunately, Montwood didn’t shirk this responsibility; for example, Mike Teavee (Adrian Salas), who ironically had attention issues, outright demanded the audience’s focus with his gestures and energy. Veronica- no, Veruca Salt (Aris Trillo) made it incredibly clear that she was the attention-nabbing little brat, and certainly the audience loved to hate her. Let’s not forget Violet Beauregarde (Kasha Hamilton) whose gum smacking was oh so very annoying. Finally, Augustus Gloop (Connor Myers), who was as "big as the dome of the capital," had the crowd wanting more after the song "I Eat More!"

Never once did any of these characters falter, and these were merely the ticket winners. Hearty applause goes to the rest of the cast as well, like Mr. Salt (Robert Fernandez) who was clearly "nuts about nuts," and the Grandparents (Hope Lopez, Nikki Enriquez, and Felipe Sotelo) who make the crowd laugh loudly because Grandpa George (Anthony Hinojosa) could not hear them.

Costumes were bright and helped along the characterization, like Wonka’s glittery and odd coat, that showed he wasn’t just a run of the mill chocolate maker. Makeup did a wonderful job as well, since the age differences between the kids and the grandparents could be seen immediately. However, the costumes and makeup barely stood a chance to the raw, pure imagination poured into the set. It was clear here most of all that this play wasn’t just a simple spin-off of the movie; live people were squirrels in place of the golden-egg geese and in the blink of an eye, the fountain became Augustus’ tight pipe nightmare. The sets were changed so fast that it almost seemed like magic at times. The stage held up the story wonderfully, and the curtain became the gates of imagination; everyone wanted to know what was coming up next.

The final impression left in the mind of the audience, all among Dahl’s lessons, is that a little happiness can be had as long as a person remains pure and positive. It seems that, because of thinking positively, Montwood can make the theater sound sweet like the candy-man can make the world taste good.

by Alexandra N. Welch Quarm of Bel Air High School

PURE IMAGINATION ON MONTWOOD STAGE

In a “world of endless fascination” full of Wonka bars, nerds, and everlasting gobstoppers, stands Willy Wonka himself. He’s been holed up in his factory for a long time, but that’s about to change. He’s going to open his gates to the luckiest children in the world in search of something he seems to have lost. This is the story of "Willy Wonka," performed by the Montwood High School theatre troupe-the Emerald Players.

Willy Wonka closed down his factory because spies were stealing his secret recipes, but for the first time in years he’s going to open the gates to the factory for five children who manage to find the golden tickets he’s hidden in his Wonka bars. Wonka wants to find some good in the world, and someone to keep the factory going when he is no longer there to do so. He intends to choose the best participant at the end of the tour. There is also the parallel story of Charlie and the Bucket family. They are poor and all they eat is cabbage soup. Charlie doesn’t particularly mind and is a nice, sweet boy who wants so badly to find the last golden ticket and get into Willy Wonka’s factory.

Charlie, played by Gabe Medrano, was portrayed as good and unselfish when it came to the Wonka contest. You could see that he wanted to win, but he felt bad for his family and how poor they were, so he tried not to make it a very big deal. Charlie’s four bedridden grandparents were realistically played and funny to watch. Grandpa Joe, played by Felipe Sotelo, was invited into the factory along with Charlie and he did a nice job being the elderly grandfather with a fun, playful side.

Augustus Gloop, played by Connor Myers and his mother (Rebecca Tarango) were chunky Germans with wonderful accents. They worked well together and were very amusing. Tarango was comical and had perfect timing. Veruca Salt, the spoiled brat of a child, played by Aris Trillo, and her pretty-boy father, Robert Fernandez, who owns a nut factory and won’t let you forget it, almost looked related and had a great father/daughter relationship that showed on stage. Violet Beauregarde (Kasha Hamilton) was an unpleasant child whose exaggerated gum smacking fit the part perfectly. Mike Teavee (Adrian Salas) was the technology obsessed child who couldn’t keep his mind focused if he tried. Adrian did a great job and never stopped acting the part. Even in the background, he was always Mike. His mother, played by Aja Segapeli, did a wonderful job, was gorgeous, and sang well. They had good chemistry as mother and son. Phineous Trout, the reporter played by Colton Segapeli, also provided comi c relief.

Daniel Novotny, who played Willy Wonka, did an excellent job. He was very believable and fun to watch playing the zany, eccentric chocolatier perfectly. His costume was just right and Novotny did a great job with anything that was thrown at him.

The set was very creative and had many elements that had to be put up quickly and precisely. It was fun to watch the many different rooms of Willy Wonka’s factory materialize. They used a projector at different scenes in the play to make an interesting and eye-catching background. Good job stage crew.

Montwood’s performance of "Willy Wonka" was inviting and had a lot of charm. As they said, “If you want to see magic lands, close your eyes and you will see one,” and they created a magic land on stage. It was "pure imagination."

Cappies

The El Paso Cappies Blog is here to provide information about high school theater in El Paso. We will be providing reviews of shows past and previews of shows to come. Most of our content will be student generated.